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Canada Post issues new high-value definitive stamp featuring the majestic blue whale
Canada Wildlife series welcomes addition of the largest animal known to man

Oct. 4, 2010

Canada Post issued a new high-value definitive stamp today featuring the blue whale. It is the largest stamp ever issued and the highest value stamp that Canada Post has ever produced. The image is based on an illustration by Canadian artist, Suzanne Duranceau and engraved by Jorge Peral. A collector’s item, the single stamp is being sold for $10 and is available in limited quantities; only 1,000 single stamps are for sale. 

As is the case with the other stamps in the popular Canadian Wildlife series, this new edition showcases our country’s unique animals. “Like the blue whale itself, this is the largest and the highest value denomination stamp Canada Post has produced,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamps Services at Canada Post. “The largest stamp ever issued in this series was the grizzly bear in 1997, and we thought it a fitting tribute to this majestic creature of the animal kingdom to double the size of the stamp.”

Due to the stamp’s high value, many security features were introduced in order to prevent fraud. Though some of the features are not being publicized for security reasons, invisible tagging inks is an example of one of the features used. Microtype was also used to write the Latin name for the blue whale—a feature that is impossible to reproduce by any other means than intaglio.

The blue whale, the largest mammal ever known to have existed and one of the longest-lived has been hunted by whalers for centuries. In 1966 the International Whaling Committee protected the blue whales. Known for their grandeur, only 10,000 to 25,000 of these graceful swimmers are believed to roam the world’s oceans.

About the stamp

The stamps measures 128 mm x 49 mm (horizontal) and has 13+ perforations. Printed by Canadian Bank Note on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in four colours, silkscreen and intaglio, the stamp is gummed. The official first day cover will be cancelled in Tadoussac, Quebec. The stamps are available in panes of two.